Karthik Ravishankar is an associate with Alvarez & Marsal’s (A&M) Health Industry Group (HIG) in New York. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College. 

In the following Q&A, Karthik shares how he’s proud of the relationships he’s cultivated and built, how his A&M mentors Joe Saundercook and Tim Schaetzel have impacted his growth, and his favorite type of cuisine. 

What led you to pursue your chosen field of study?

I studied economics and government at Hamilton College. I was mainly interested in the macroeconomic space and the study of behavioral economics, so it was a no-brainer to concentrate on economics as my main area of study. Interestingly, I only chose to study government because I really connected with one of the professors who brought out the best in me and was always supportive, so I just kept taking the classes and eventually met the requirements to add it as another concentration.

Why did you choose to intern at A&M? 

I found it rare that there was a consulting firm that was so meritocratic even at the intern level. If you show aptitude and prove to be reliable in the situations at hand, there really is no ceiling to the experiences you can gain.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments, and what resources do you rely on for ongoing learning and growth?

I am a big believer in formal learning. I constantly seek out new resources to study and learn new things. Most recently, I’ve become focused on learning more about corporate finance, so I find courses online that some of the investment banks may use and then work through the content there. Even if not directly relevant to the day-to-day at A&M, it helps broaden my overall perspective and skill set. I make it a point to read the news at the start and end of each day, and I make sure to read healthcare-specific news during those same time intervals as well. 

What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment so far in your career?

I am proud of the relationships I have with my peers and team members. I cannot recall a single project where I wasn’t successful because of the support of someone else, even if it is the support of someone not on the same project as me. The people in HIG are really special and important to my overall professional life.

What advice would you give to students in university who are looking to work in consulting? 

My advice would be to really build up a strong work ethic. Commit yourself to doing something and seeing it through—that is most of the battle from my experience. I would also say to exercise research habits and focus on improving both your written and verbal communication skills.

In hindsight, what advice would you give to your college self or to other recent graduates about navigating the transition from school to work?

In some ways, you have a lot more freedom to dictate how your day-to-day will look post–graduation and that can be a bit misleading. You may feel like you have a lot of free time when in reality you may not, and the inverse is also true. My advice is to really focus on yourself for six months to a year and constantly check in with yourself to understand the boundaries between your work and personal life so you can make sure you weigh each based on your comfort level and goals.

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations for the next few years in your career?

I am someone who always strives to maximize opportunities and learn new things, so my goal is to keep finding new opportunities to be uncomfortable.

Can you tell us about a mentor or advisor who has been influential in your career development, and what did you learn from them?

I’ve had so many mentors that to just name one or two may be a disservice to the others. I will say that two of my HIG colleagues Joe Saundercook and Tim Schaetzel have impacted my growth in a myriad of ways. Joe is someone I view as having mastered the art of asking questions. I learned how to conduct myself with the client when I am in the process of learning more about a situation and how to ask clients the right questions. It is a skill that I am very much still developing, but I have seen exponential development in that space after working with Joe. 

With Tim, it’s almost everything else. He approaches his work with a ferocious calmness, and I really learned how to be composed, organized and tenacious in our product delivery. He has helped me a lot with time management, developing creative client solutions, developing methodical internal processes for optimal client delivery and so much more. The common thread with all the influential mentors in my professional life is that they are all very encouraging and provide candid and real-time feedback, which helps me adopt new practices quickly. 

What's your favorite hobby or activity outside of work, and how did you get into it?

I love music, cooking, and scuba diving. I have been playing the saxophone for approximately 15 years, and I also have been learning Indian Carnatic music for about 20 years. Scuba diving is something I had always been fascinated with doing as a kid, and when I had an opportunity to get certified and start, I couldn’t stop. 

If you had to eat only one type of cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Easy question. Indian food—specifically, my home food from the south of India.